Can't DU combat the trolls??

[Eurobabe]

With this sudden explosion of people posting flame-bait threads that piss off both camps, why the HELL can't DU do something about checking multiple registrations and not allowing people to start threads until they have reached a certain post count??

I have noticed an alarming trend, people are possibly re-registering under a new name, hiding their profiles then using the same disgusting attack modes.

This place needs a frickin' exterminator.

[Kittycat]

1. Agreed!

There was one on yesterday, posting flamebait threads with only 11posts. I checked registration - they only registered yesterday. I wonder what their post count is up to now? I've noticed many new posters coming in and bumping up their post count on the same idiotic crap being posted, reposted, and posted again in new threads.

[Bonobo]

2. Now, I just look at names of posters to read posts. My ignore list is up to about 15.

It helps a lot.

Some people NEVER try to say anything constructive. Never.

All their posts are a waste of time and emotion to read.

Just wipe them out. These DU tools are awesome. Hide thread and Ignore. They ARE good.

[Eurobabe]

31. My ignore list is up to 35!

I let it go, but if someone has a low post count and they start posting bullshit or attack personally, off with their head!

[Skinner]

3. We already do all the things you suggest. And a lot more.

If you think someone is a troll, click alert. If the mods agree with you, they will ban that person. If they don't, they won't.

What can I say? It's primary season. Even people who aren't trolls act like it sometimes. :shrug:

[LostinVA]

7. Since it's primary season, can we raise the limit on the minimum posts needed to start threads?

I wouldn't be opposed to raising it to 500 or a 1000, but even a 100 would be better. I've seen trolls starting threads at 10 posts. I think it would make the mods jobs easier in the long-run.

[Skinner]

11. I would prefer not to do that.

If we are too restrictive, we'll drive the good people away. New members are the lifeblood of any community, and election years are when we get the most new members.

Too many DUers make new members feel unwelcome. I do not wish to be one of them.

[LNM]

60. Thanks, Skinner

I'm not a newbie, but I still have a low post-count. I think it's a waste of bandwidth(and time) to write a bunch of crap just to get my post-count higher and I've found a lot of other people on this board who feel the same way.

[Eurobabe]

63. You may have a lw post count but your profile is visible

you've been a member since 2004. I am talking about the sly folks who come on here and have no profile, low post count and no donor star. Methinks something is funny about that... :shrug:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

74. That, in and of itself, of course means nothing. It's the TONE of the posts. -nt

[Dawggie]

77. And there lies a good reason that DU is as successful as it is.

Good job, sir.

[L. Coyote]

4. Too costly. There are hundreds of them, each earning $20 an hour, all replaceable instantly

Resistance IS Futile :rofl:

[conscious evolution]

5. Sure does

I can think one heavenly turd who needs to be TSed.All he does is greiferbait and never contributes anything that even remotely contributes to raising the level of discourse around here.

My solution is to start alerting on them.If enough people start doing likewise then maybe we can bring some sanity back to DU.

[SidDithers]

13. Please, alert on that poster if you feel they're breaking the rules...

but I suspect that it's more a case of you not liking that they, and many other posters, don't accept the woo that you're posting.

Sid

[conscious evolution]

16. I have started doing so.

The one I have in mind does not attack me alone.I have seen the person do the same to many others here.I also know many here have the person on ignore.
I may not like the person but I am not the only person here to have the same attitude towards him.
I understand that many here may not agree with my opinions and I have no problem with that as long as they at least try to have a reasonable debate concerning the topic under discussion.
The ones I have problems with are the ones who consistantly deliberately use personnal attacks or refuse to answer questions or make any attempt at reasonable debate backed up with facts.
Personally,I feel that DU would be better off without people who use rightwing tactics.

[yardwork]

45. Some people are simply hard to get along with.

Their behavior may not warrant their being banned, even if they annoy a lot of other posters. It's just a message board. Put the folks you can't stand on ignore or simply don't read their threads/posts or take a break when they get to you.

I've felt angry with another poster from time to time, only to have very pleasant interactions with them at a later time over a different subject. Many people don't intend offense. It's hard to read nuance on electronic message boards.

[yardwork]

46. P.S. Sometimes I've felt annoyed iwith a poster and later learned

that they were going through a very difficult time in their lives. There are tens of thousands of us. Some people just got laid off, or haven't found work in months (or even years). People lose loved ones. People are struggling with serious medical problems, or they're very worried about something or someone in their lives. All these things can contribute to cranky-sounding posts.

[conscious evolution]

50. I can understand the time to time part

Go search out my posts back in may/june last year.Yikes! I had to take a break from here for a while until some personal issues cleared up.
There are those here with whom I disagree on one or two issues but see eye to eye with on other issues.Such people I have no problem with.
Even some of the former right wingers here who have seen the light but still hold on to some of their right wing positions I can deal with.
But when it comes to those who seem to take joy in such behavior and repeat that behavior with others as far as I am concerned they can go.
If you were a bar or restuarant owner would you put up with such an obnoxious customer on a regular basis?

[yardwork]

53. Genuine troublemakers usually get shown the door sooner or later.

But one person's obnoxious troublemaker is somebody else's thoughtful radical. I recommend putting the ones you can't stand on ignore.

[BridgeTheGap]

6. Hey, I've been accussed of being a TROLL!

Because I have posted a few items of right wing origin simply to make people aware of what's happening over there. I think it's important to know.
Any one who has followed my posts would know that I typically don't post such stuff BUT when I do, I catch hell for it.

[BridgeTheGap]

22. Okay, so check out this thread I started and tell me what you think

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x336275

[Quantess]

69. You did nothing wrong.

Besides, the article is practically Onion material. People can be so uptight.

[Suziq]

8. I am SO with you

I was under the impression that Democratic Underground was to promote DEMOCRATIC candidates (whoever they may be). These trolls are really tearing us apart - must be a Repuke objective!

[Quantess]

66. I have the same sneaking suspicion

that some of the disruptors aren't even backing the candidate that they say they do, and in fact are republicans in disguise. It's so hard to tell on the internet!

[TahitiNut]

9. Why do yoopers hate those of us living below the bridge?

Regional bias is soooo tiresome.

:dunce:

[Tesha]

12. And what about this guy?

[TahitiNut]

15. Uncle Marty!!

... and his pet bug. :silly:

[Echo In Light]

20. Anyone not espousing mainline views in lockstep is apparently a "troll."

[Eurobabe]

27. No, people who start the same thread over and over

to incite riot are trolls. Has nothing to do with lockstep.

[DaDooRonRon]

34. But what if the point they make is true?

I will argue that Hillary Clinton is as much of a progressive as my chain saw, and in order for me to make that point I present article after article showing her duplicity and fake "credentials". Does this make me a troll, or am I instead someone who is trying to shine a light on what will happen if she is elected?

I am afraid it has everything to do with lockstep, judging by what I have been reading here over the last couple of weeks or so.

[Eurobabe]

39. Good DUcitizens check for duplicates

Why do we need 5 thread going simultaneously that say the same thing? :shrug:

Edit: Buy a star so you can use the advanced search feature!

[DaDooRonRon]

47. Because five people feel strongly about something?

That would be my guess, anyway.

Thanks for the star prompt, but I believe I'll pass. I read several different websites throughout the course of a day, and right now I am not seeing enough political insight on this one to make it worth opening the checkbook for. The real issues are glossed over in favor of "my side winning", and I am really not a big fan of that.

I'll keep watching, though - you never know. :)

[Eurobabe]

48. No because FIVE people post exactly the

same story that is designed to disrupt the forums. :hi:

[DaDooRonRon]

57. Then I think we should shoot four of them

It's the only way. :hi:

[Eurobabe]

61. Annie, get your gun

[yardwork]

42. As a Hillary supporter, I'll answer your questions.

It's perfectly ok to post your opinion about primary candidates, as long as you do it in GD-P. Articles and editorials might be better posted in the forum reserved for them.

"Presenting article after article" sounds a little like spamming, which is against DU rules. It clogs up the boards to post the same thing over and over again. Also, if you are truly posting links to articles, the better place for this is the "Editorials" forum.

If you are linking to articles from right-wing or questionable sources, your threads will be locked and you will get a reputation as a possible troll. While no source is 100% reliable, there are lots of extremely biased right-wing sites, and it's against DU rules to link to them. If you have had posts deleted or threads locked because of that, take it seriously and stop linking to those sites.

This is a discussion board. The purpose is to discuss, read, reflect, persuade, and engage in conversation. If your purpose is to hammer away that "Hillary is as progressive as my chain saw" and you aren't willing to engage in discussion with others, you're probably in the wrong place.

I chose to support Hillary Clinton after my first, second, and third choices dropped out. I have no illusions about her positions. I happen to think that she is a better choice than Obama, although I'll gladly vote for him if he's the nominee. Your posting thread after thread linking to articles calling Hillary names is not going to change my mind, and will tend to harden my position against her opponent. Just my two cents.

[Eurobabe]

51. well said yardwork

I don't HATE Clinton, but some of her so-called hard core supporters make me despise her and her campaign. I think trolls who post thread after thread come here to foster divisiveness and stir up the pot.

I am glad I started this thread, I've received some good ideas to combat the disruptors. Thanks everyone! :hi:

[yardwork]

54. I agree that I've noticed obnoxiousness on both sides. It's not helpful.

Most DUers aren't like that, though.

[Eurobabe]

62. I know which is why I believe what someone posted on another

thread that Limpballs urged his crew of crackheads to come to DU and stir up the pot. I think more than 80% of the HillBots and ObamaTrons are courtesy of OxyRush!!

[DaDooRonRon]

55. Thanks

I will address one of your points, as I am short on time and need to get to the airport (bleah) fairly soon. You made mention of "questionable' sources, and this phrase bothers me. When I made my first post here, I made mention of the fact that a) I had been lurking for a long time and b) I read many other websites aside from this. I will state for the record that at least two of these site are considered "questionable" by DU, and I am at a loss to understand why. The information I get from them is invaluable, and to put you at ease neither is a right-wing screed type of source. Both, however, shed light on mainstream candidates that (sadly) I have not seen here.

With regards to Ms. Clinton, understand that it is not my intent to places links to name-calling articles. If the articles show her previous positions to be consistently pro-war while at the same time she attempts to show herself as otherwise then any and all descriptions of her are fair game, and rightly so. I can not help it if you are offended by that, but perhaps if you broadened your horizons and looked at what was being said in places other than an echo chamber (and that is what any website that affiliates itself with a political party is) then you would see what I and others see. It's a kick in the ass sometimes, for I remember the first time I saw something about my "chosen one" of '04 at one of the "banned" websites. I got so damn mad I wouldn't read that website for six months! Well, I peeked back in, started reading the links, asked myself questions that I couldn't answer, and realized they were right and I wasn't. Humbling.

Unlike you, I am not willing to settle for third or fourth place. I am no longer willing to watch soldiers and civilians die because someone wouldn't take a stand, nor am I willing to put up with bullshit like DODT, NAFTA and "welfare reform" because someone is joined at the hip to corporate America. Third rate choices get us third rate solutions, and you may be perfectly content to watch Hillary cuddle up to Rupert and Billy place golf with George.

I'm not, and I'll be damned if I'll sit idly by while folks let corporate fascism sneak in the back door wearing a pantsuit instead of in the front door wearing a fifth of Jack Daniels and an ill-fitting suit.

Just my two cents, and probably another nickel to boot. :)

[yardwork]

59. The list of unacceptable sites is not up for discussion.

It's a free internet. You can read anything you like. There are a number of sites to which it is unacceptable to link on DU. If you have a question about why, you can write directly to Skinner and ask.

[DaDooRonRon]

75. I expected more from you than an answer like this

However, it speaks volumes.

Trying thinking OUTSIDE the lines next time - unless of course those lines mean safety to you, and not confinement.

Oh, and and thank you so much for your permission to read what I'd like - such a liberal position to take.

I am eternally grateful, massa.

[yardwork]

76. What are you talking about? I don't make the rules here nor am I a spokesperson.

I'm just one of the tens of thousands of DUers who enjoy and support this site. You seemed to have a genuine question, so I answered it as best I can. I'm sorry that you found my response to be insulting. It certainly wasn't intended that way.

[Eurobabe]

26. Have you read the Blue Eyed Boy?

It's all about the first love of a girl who spends her summers in the UP. :hi:

[TahitiNut]

33. Nope. I've known too many such girls in my life.

:evilgrin:

[yardwork]

10. Volunteer moderators and the administrators work around the clock to keep DU clean.

The moderators are unpaid volunteers with jobs and families who spend many hours logged into DU exterminating trolls and putting out flame-wars between posters who aren't trolls but are behaving badly (me too, sometimes).

As DUers, we can help the mods by -

1. Alerting on posts that break DU rules
2. Following the rules ourselves and not engaging in name-calling or flamebaiting.

[Eurobabe]

28. I know that and we ALL love the MODS

I have very seldomly alerted threads because I thought I was tattle-tailing. I will now do it more often. :hi:

[yardwork]

36. The mods count on alerts. It's not tattling.

As long as posters don't abuse the alert function by using it over and over for the same post or unfairly stalking another DUer, the alerts help the mods. If they don't agree with the alert they'll decide to do nothing.

Hitting alert ensures that a mod sees the post. When I was a mod I was too busy modding to actually read and participate on the boards. I counted on alerts to help me do my job.

[Eurobabe]

40. Good to know

I've never been a mod. Kudos to you and the other mods, sainthood awaits. Especially after primary season. :hi:

[yardwork]

43. I lost my halo long ago! But thank you!

[NMDemDist2]

72. I'll second yardwork's info. when I was a mod I never had time to just surf DU

there were always fires to be put out, if not in my forum then the mods from other forums needed input to do their job

the alert key is your friend.... (and the mod's friend too!)

[Hekate]

87. That's helpful info. I felt the same way about "tattling", but have noticed that ...

... on most of the occasions when I hit Alert it later turns out that the thread is locked, and a couple of times the offending poster has been tombstoned. That tells me that my impression was accurate.

Hekate

[onehandle]

14. Vote with your wallet. I don't donate to DU to tolerate this crapola.

When my star is gone, it's gone.

[yardwork]

37. There are more effective ways to help.

Since the mods are volunteers, it doesn't make a bit of difference to them whether you donate or not. And I guarantee that the admins are much too busy keeping this place going to pay attention to who among the 10,000 is donating or not.

The suggestion that the admins and mods don't care about trolls is just wrong.

If you really care about DU, donate to help pay for the costs of keeping the board on the internet, follow the rules when posting, and alert on anything you see that breaks the rules.

[rucky]

17. Most of them stay in quarantine. n/t

[Donk Yore]

18. this place needs freedom

possibly a concept you've forgotten in your fascist rant

[Hell Hath No Fury]

21. Speaking of...

:evilgrin:

[uppityperson]

30. and we get to practice what skinner said to do.

The irony is cutting.

[uppityperson]

32. glitch

[Eurobabe]

29. So you think that my being against blatantly

anti-Obama rants such as "I received this email about Obama being a Muslim," or anti-Clinton rants "Hillary cried to get votes," or anti-Edwards rants "Edwards gets $400 haircuts," or how about the gem "Joe Biden has awful hairplugs" is fascist?

This is the kind of crap we've been subjected to in the past 4 months, and it is sickening.

[AlCzervik]

19. just try and ignore them and many will just implode after the nominee is picked.

[kineneb]

23. trolls are like raindrops, wear a good coat and they roll right off.

Umbrellas are good, too.

[donsu]

24. if no one posts on disruptor threads, they will disappear

nt

[stubtoe]

25. Exactly. Giving people like that attention is like giving them oxygen.

Even if it's negative attention, it still keeps flames going.

[yardwork]

38. Absolutely! Hit alert and don't post. Posting just kicks the thread.

[slackmaster]

35. Just hit Alert and don't sweat it

DU mods are pretty good at detecting and stopping multiple regs.

[HamdenRice]

41. Mods need to do regular spot checks on IP addresses -- from campaign headquarters

I realize a lot of long time DUers are pretty partisan, but there does seem to be an influx of new partisan extremists.

DU should do like Wiki did and trace some of these suckers to see if they are posting from Congressional staff offices or campaign headquarters.

[shanti]

44. that's why

i just put most new low count newbs on ignore. they out themselves eventually and are often tombstoned (you should see my ignore list!) works for me, but YMMV.

[Eurobabe]

49. good idea, for the obnoxious ones, I will start doing this

thanks! :hi:

[L. Coyote]

52. Yes, WE can. WE are DU, and we can do something.

First, don't look to someone else to do the something. Do something yourself first.

LIKE: Start a thread to compete with the truckloads of pure CRAP the trolls would dump on us!

[walldude]

58. I tried that yesterday

I posted a thread claiming that we should start pushing for either an Obama/Clinton ticket or a Clinton/Obama ticket(I don't care which). Stop the infighting, get everyone's choice in the white house and start working together to make sure that the GOP doesn't try to steal the election. I got a single response from an obvious Hillary supporter who basically said Obama's campaign was dead in the water and he was just too mean to poor Hillary to even be considered her running mate. So I'm back to popping in a few times a week for a few minutes to read the Top 10 and a few threads. I'm staying out of the campaign till people can get their shit together.

[L. Coyote]

65. We have to pick our threads, AND start them, on non-divisive topics, I guess.

until after the nomination. At least the madness is now confined "over there" to some degree. I tried a neutral thread there, with poor float too.

[walldude]

67. Yeah I just hope after the nomination the whole "sour grapes"

thing doesn't rear it's head. At some point we are going to need to get together. With winners like McCain and Huckabee to face off with the only way we can lose is to remain divided.

[MonkeyFunk]

56. Agreed

I'm not sure why the admins think the site benefits from this. A lot of sane people just stay away now.

[Eurobabe]

64. I've noticed alot of good people are gone

and will most likely not return, the level of discourse is reduced to a steaming pile of shit.

[live love laugh]

68. You are right on target about this. I am fed up too--which means the trolls are winning

And it's SOOOOO obvious.

I am tired of the idiotic "Hillary Hater/Obama Hater" bullshit. The fact is--the haters are trollers who are not being identified and the hate labels are distractions. The name callers might as well put their hands in their ears and stick out their tongues while blabbering "Nyah Nyah Nyah Nyah Nyah." :eyes: DU has NEVER been this childlike in a primary season and there is a reason for the deterioration. It's not accidental.

IMHO...

If something is NOT done, it will also result in the demise of DU.

At some point Skinner will have to decide whether it's better to accept new members and keep the boards open and possibly troll ridden or to let go of old members if the trolls continue to invade.

[MonkeyFunk]

70. the real loss

is that most of us are here because we love politics and would like to discuss the election. GD-P is so overflowing with hate, lies, smears, innuendo and spam that it's practically impossible.

The number of people ruining it are relatively few, and they're easily identifiable. But they run the place now.

[SoCalDem]

71. Just hit alert and don't respond to them..

They come here for attention and to argue & distract.. One person trying to have an argument...all by himself/herself ,is not very effective..

They would get pretty frustrated if they came here and started threads that got 2 or 3 welcomes, and no responses to their flamebait..and then dropped like rocks..

[varkam]

73. If you see something that violates DU rules...

then you should hit the alert button. While we may not take action on every alert, we do review every alert sent our way.

[Neecy]

78. I'm really starting to resent this

The threads that are being spammed over there - many by posters who hide their profiles so you can't see they've been here for two months or less and have a thousand posts, or people who have been here a couple of weeks and have 500+ posts - are getting deeply offensive. I've been a Democrat my entire adult life and I've always judged candidates by their positions, period. Yet I've been told I'm a 'cult' member, or sexist, or somehow deranged because I'm not supporting a DLC candidate. I've never seen most of these member names yet I'm being lectured by them, mocked by them, and insulted by them daily. If these are cherished 'new members' then a lot of old ones are going to be lost, because we're apparently here just to accept their crap and be insulted by it.

[uppityperson]

79. If profile is hidden, can tell how long they have been here another way.

hover your cursor over my user id card and (on mine at the bottom of page) you can see a website (DU) and a number. The number is their user number. You can compare with others who have enabled profiles to see when they joined.

Mine is 153488, yours is 104945, meaning you joined before me. Look at a couple more and you can get a pretty good idea of when they joined.

[Neecy]

80. very helpful, thank you!

[likesmountains 52]

82. Where is the user id card...I guess I don't understand..thanks

[uppityperson]

84. To the right of my name, see the icons?

They are: Journal (may not be one of those). Pm/yellow envelope. Index card. Outline with +. Outline with -.

Hover your cursor over the index card or, in the case of no index card (means no profile available) the envelope or + or -. At the bottom of my screen I see a website (www.du.etc#). The number is the number I got when I signed on.

Some really old timers have odd numbers because there was a change or something like that at some point, but they have been assigning sequential numbers for the last 4 yrs at least.

[likesmountains 52]

85. Thanks! Great tool to have..

[hfojvt]

81. no, that battle was lost

when Jiacinto re-registered as "48percenter" and NSMA re-registered as "hfojvt" :evilgrin:

[BuyingThyme]

83. What were once voices of reason are now trolls.

[tabasco]

86. Fuckinay right.

Declare war on trolls!